Spain will not authorize calling of ships carrying weapons for Israel

Spain will not authorize ships carrying weapons for Israel to call at its ports, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Friday, after the country refused to let a ship call at the southeastern port of Cartagena.

The ship was the first to be denied access to a Spanish port, Albares said, adding the refusal was consistent with the government's decision not to grant weapon export licenses to Israel since Oct. 7, as Spain doesn't "want to contribute to war."

EaSpain has refused permission for an Israel-bound ship carrying arms to call at the southeastern port of Cartagena, Transport Minister Oscar Puente said on Thursday.

The Marianne Danica was carrying a cargo of arms to Israel and had requested permission to call at Cartagena on May 21, Transport Minister Oscar Puente said on X on Thursday.

Explosive material onboard

It was carrying nearly 27 tons of explosive material from India's Madras, El Pais reported.

The Foreign Ministry, which Puente said denied the authorization, did not immediately reply to repeated requests for comment.

H. Folmer & Co., the company managing the Marianne Danica, did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The reports come amid a spat between the ruling Socialists and their hard-left partners over allowing the transit of vessels carrying arms to Israeli ports.